Like this:

These are my lovely new etched napkin rings, just back from the photographers. They’re the first round pair of napkin rings that I’ve done and, while the etch was a little challenging (especially on the inside of one!) I think that they’ve come out wonderfully.

I collected some new castings in the week and finally got them onto my bench today. I made the original copper models of these, looking at pictures I took of the shapes of little fishing boats moored out in a harbour.

There’s a very definite stripe that runs through the centre, on a curve, which I think I’ll put a bright, burnished edge onto once it’s all cleaned up and joined together.

Until then, here’s an idea of what it will be like when it all comes together:

The end of Septmeber/beginning of October is marked indelibly in the industry calendar as ‘Goldsmiths Fair‘. Now in it’s 30th year the two week event sees some of the nations finest makers of jewellery and silverware gather in London to present new work to visitors in the splendid surroundings of Goldsmiths Hall.

maker of sculptural pieces, tableware and desk accessories Kapralova is a new graduate with an eye for balance and beautiful simplicity. Some of her most striking pieces, made from silver and silver inlaid iron (I have no idea how you’d even start to inlay silver in iron, but hats off to her as she makes it sound effortless) play with your expectations and amuse themselves with their inlaid silver ‘reflections’.

I’ve admired Ramsey’s work for years but haven’t seen much of it in person before. This year, fresh from a trip to Iceland, she was presenting some new pieces that use her trademark saw pierced technique but employ smatterings of enamel too, creating some wonderful textures and sprays of colour over her silverware.

Forms jewellery from many tiny components, aiming to capture the complexity of nature in her work. In delicate mixes of silver and gold the many tiny forms build up into a larger whole with a subtle, shimmering motion to them which does indeed make them feel like they have a life of their own.

Now, I’m fairly confident playing with precious metals but yesterday I had to do some proper DIY.

I’ve treated myself to a new workshop vice (I know, I could have bought shoes …) which has been sitting around for a fortnight while I worked up the courage to get the really big drill out. Normally I would just look pitiful until Mr W came to my rescue but he insists that I must learn and, therefore, I did DIY:

Careful planning

Eep, drilling

Neatly drilled

Bolts and nuts, oh my

Lining it up

And bolts on!

It wasn’t particularly fun (the lock nuts were particularly tricky with only a spanner and a pair of pliers) but I am proud of having managed it:

Plus I’ve tested it and it didn’t fall off the worktop onto my foot *hurrah*